Patents by Inventor Ian J. Kirby

Ian J. Kirby has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5449424
    Abstract: Precipitation of fine azide core particles with in-situ coating with suspended tiny oxide particles, followed by concentration of the dilute suspension of these bodies to form a slurry with residual dissolved azide in the liquor, and finally converting the slurry in to solid aggregates of the pyrotechnic bodies by e.g. prilling whereby liquid phase evaporation releases dissolved azide causing the pyrotechnic bodies to be adhered together in to larger aggregates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignees: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC, ICI Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Oliver, Ian J. Kirby, Sek K. Chan
  • Patent number: 5411290
    Abstract: A hybrid inflator for a gas bag safety restraint system for use in a motorized vehicle comprises a compressed supply of stored gas heated by means of a gasless pyrotechnic material in sheet form. The sheeted pyrotechnic material may advantageously be located within the compressed gas storage vessel in a thin container or in direct contact with the gas. The invention also includes a heating element for a hybrid inflator. The preferred pyrotechnic material comprises a substrate of an oxidizing polymeric material for example, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), coated with an oxidizable material, for example magnesium, which is capable of reacting exothermally with the oxidizing polymeric material. The pyrotechnic sheet produces solid products in very fine particle form which gives improved energy transfer to the stored gas. The invention facilities simple, cheaper constructions of hybrid inflators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignees: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC, ICI Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Sek K. Chan, Steven J. Graham, Ian J. Kirby, Graeme A. Leiper
  • Patent number: 4732627
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the quality of an emulsion explosive composition by selecting an electrical characteristic of the composition, establishing a predetermined range of values therefor, measuring the selected characteristic of the composition and, in response to a measured characteristic outwith the predetermined range, diverting, or treating the composition to restore the selected characteristic to within the predetermined range.Suitable characteristics include conductivity and capacitance, and the technique may be employed in a static location or on a mobile carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventors: John Cooper, Ian J. Kirby
  • Patent number: 4542891
    Abstract: A combination woodworking bench and press for gluing veneered panels or assembling and gluing case good carcasses. A bench top of torsion box construction is supported by a trestle-type stand having rods or tubes for supporting movable pressing cauls and movable battens. Lower battens are supported on such rods during positioning in the press configuration, and work pieces are pressed between the bench top and movable cauls, which are also of torsion box structure. Pressure is applied by clamping the ends of pairs of battens positioned above and below the cauls and bench top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Inventor: Ian J. Kirby
  • Patent number: 4419933
    Abstract: Separate electrical timing and load activation devices are provided for each of plural electrical loads and each device is connected to receive reference timing signals from a central unit. Each of the separate timing and load activation devices measures a reference time interval accurately defined by the reference timing signals and subsequently activates its associated electrical load after a respectively corresponding predetermined time delay which is determined as a function of the locally measured reference time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Limited
    Inventors: Ian J. Kirby, Michael I. Mitchell, Andrew Stratton
  • Patent number: 4409897
    Abstract: Separate electrical timing and load activation devices are provided for each of plural electrical loads and each device is connected to receive reference timing signals from a central unit. Each of the separate timing and load activation devices measures a reference time interval accurately defined by the reference timing signals and subsequently activates its associated electrical load after a respectively corresponding predetermined time delay which is determined as a function of the locally measured reference time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ian J. Kirby, Michael I. Mitchell, Andrew Stratton
  • Patent number: 4324182
    Abstract: Separate electrical timing and load activation devices are provided for each of plural electrical loads and each device is connected to receive reference timing signals from a central unit. Each of the separate timing and load activation devices measures a reference time interval accurately defined by the reference timing signals and subsequently activates its associated electrical load after a respectively corresponding predetermined time delay which is determined as a function of the locally measured reference time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Limited
    Inventors: Ian J. Kirby, Michael I. Mitchell, Andrew Stratton
  • Patent number: RE32888
    Abstract: Separate electrical timing and load activation devices are provided for each of plural electrical loads and each device is connected to receive reference timing signals from a central unit. Each of the separate timing and load activation devices measures a reference time interval accurately defined by the reference timing signals and subsequently activates its associated electrical load after a respectively corresponding predetermined time delay which is determined as a function of the locally measured reference time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventors: Ian J. Kirby, Michael I. Mitchell, Andrew Stratton